Sivir II

"Her fate is hers, and hers alone."

The sight of a bustling Verauka, the long dead Mother of Life once more flooding its banks reminded me that the world was full of legends. Myths. Stories.

The Rune Wars. The Darkin War. The Ruination. The Rise of Shurima and the Sunborn. The Fall of Shurima and the betrayed Emperor.

The past is rich with stories like these, and while they are all fascinating, my only interest in them was how their remnants - ruins, artifacts, treasures - were going to make me rich.

Life in Shurima was a series of lessons. Mercy is a luxury only available to the strong. Trust no one and they can't betray you. Work alone and the spoils will not have to be split.

These lessons are carved in every scar in my body, every nightmare that rouses me from sleep, every notch in my now familiar crossblade.

The fantastic tales of Shurima's glorious past, of god warriors and immaculate Ascension, has no place in the harsh present of Shurima.

If only those so-called 'tales' stayed in the past where they belong.

"Descendant! The blood of Shurima runs in your veins! It is your destiny to help rebuild my empire. Our empire!"

A figure clad in gold, hawk-like visage set in a stern frown, voice declaring his glory imperiously. And as he spoke, a city long forgotten rose from beneath the sands.

"Not all of Shurima will bow to you, Emperor."

The massive figure of my savior stood unfalteringly still, as though he was but one of the many statues that littered the place.

"The people of Shurima are mine to rule! I am Azir, the rightful Emperor of Shurima!"

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Emperor."

The mere memory of that confrontation, of the sand that swirled in the air, of the walls that rattled under the fury of the two beings, was enough to rile me from my thoughts. That was dangerous. A distracted mercenary is a dead one. I looked around. Thankfully, I was still alone in the ruined, crumbling house I stayed in.

"You speak to me of freedom! When I was the Emperor who destroyed slavery for my brother in all but blood!"

"A brother that betrayed you, Naruto."

The door slammed open and my hands were already on my crossblade before I even knew what I was doing. The girl, clad in a traditional feathered tribal cloak, looked apologetic.

"Who are you? Does your tribe want me dead?"

The girl frowned.

"Why would anyone want you dead?"

That was not a no.

"Nowadays, it's mostly because they want me to go back."

I held back a shudder as the memory of running away from those two godlike beings resurfaced.

"You were my teacher. The legendary hero who taught me the art of war. I will not argue with you on this. The free children of the desert, those who refuse their Emperor's embrace, they are yours to protect."

The harsh glare of hawk-like eyes burned in the back of my head.

"But the girl is of my blood. My kin. My family. Her blood had the power to restore me and the Sun Disc. What of her?"

"Her fate is hers, and hers alone."

"Back where?" The girl's voice jolted me back to the present. Damn it, Sivir, you're going to get yourself killed.

"The city. The one that rose from the sands."

Free children of the desert...

"So it's true? Ancient Shurima really is reborn? You've seen it."

I snorted. Seen it? I was there when the entire thing dusted off a millennia of sand like a tribesman would dust their cloaks.

"With my very own eyes. There's a lot of people going there now. Tribes from the east and south mostly."

The girl stared at me, awe and wonder clear on her face. My grip tightened on my crossblade.

"So, why don't you want to go back?"

Because I'm a survivor. Because I'm not some destined child whose role it is to rebuild Shurima. Because those sharp bird eyes have fueled my nightmares enough for the past few days. Because I am a free child of the desert.

"Because my fate is mine, and mine alone."

Taliyah I

The roof crumbled as fire rained from the sky. Behind me, I could hear Sivir packing up what few possessions she had lying around.

"We should go, Taliyah." Her voice was steady, not a hint of nervousness to be heard.

"Can you hear that?" I asked her, praying to the Great Weaver that the answer wasn't what I thought it was.

"People screaming, probably dying painfully? Yeah."

I froze, my mind flashing back to that fateful day aboard the Noxian ship. Of being told to massacre an entire village in their sleep. And the subsequent nightmares of me following those orders with a vicious grin instead of jumping overboard.

"Taliyah!"

I stumbled backwards as the door of our humble, crumbling abode slammed into me. As I threw the door of me, my bleeding head cradled in one hand, I caught sight of a massive shape entering the house. It was a humanoid figure, twice as tall as me, it's face elongating into a dark furred canid muzzle. My mouth fell open.

I know him.

No. I know of him.

"I am Nasus, Curator of the Sands." he said, his voice solemn. His gaze shifted from me to some point behind me, where I knew Sivir was standing, ready to fight her way out if the need arose. My magic sang and the ground beneath my feet danced with anticipation. The Curator's eyes went back to me.

"Stand aside, girl."

My back straightened.

"No, I won't let you hurt her." I heard a strangled choke of surprise behind me. Nasus spun his axe and stepped forward, but I was ready for him this time and the ground rippled at my feet. Rock lifted from the ground and plaster peeled from the walls, orbiting around me, ready to dart at my opponent at my behest, I could hear Sivir's confused "What?" from behind me as Nasus heavy gaze remained on me.

"You have the power to break the rock of Shurima." he intoned.

I tried to grin, to project an aura of confidence in my actions.

"Yes. So you'd better back off before I break you."

Nasus laughed. The legendary Curator of the Sands, the protector of Ancient Shurima's lost secrets, the Great Librarian, erupted into a full blown laugh straight from the gut.

"You possess a hero's heart, girl, but you are not the one I seek. Your magic is strong, I suggest leaving this city before he rips it out of you."

I don't really know who or what he was talking about but if the sounds of chaos and panic outside were a sign, I probably don't want to know.

"I'm not going anywhere. Sivir is my friend. I claim her as family. And the Great Weaver hates those who turn their back on family." Honestly, Sivir, if you keep choking like that, you're probably gonna be sick.

"If you are her family then know I am not here to hurt her."

That was promising. Maybe I don't have to fight a legendary godlike figure straight from Shurima's myths today.

"So, what do you..."

"You're his brother." Sivir interrupted me. Nasus turned the weight of his attention to the other woman who took the chance to step beside me.

"I beg your pardon."

"Renekton. You're his brother."

Renekton. The other half of Shurima's legends. The Butcher of the Sands. And for the past few weeks, the name that Sivir spoke of with hesitant admiration. The one who saved her from a fatal wound. The one who shielded her from the Emperor's schemes. The one who protected not only her freedom, but the freedom of any tribe not interested in joining the newly reborn Empire.

Nasus sighed.

"This is not the place to speak of him. Perhaps, once we get you to safety, we could speak more of my estranged brother, but for now, we must get you as far away from Xerath as possible."

"A dark magus who already knows too much of your existence."

Sivir glared at him.

"I've had enough of people saving me lately," she said with an air of irritation, "they always want something in return. So tell me, big man, what do you really want?"

I watched as Nasus considered the question, his canid face curling in thought.

"I want to keep you alive."

"I can do that without help!"

I coughed.

"Without any more help. Besides, fate seems to like me nowadays." she clarified. Nasus shook his head.

"You understand little of destiny. Do you know to whom that blade once belonged?" He gestured to Sivir's crossblade. Even I know little of the weapon. Sivir only told me that her entire life was upturned because of the, and I quote, 'damned thing'.

"What does it matter? It's mine now." she declared defiantly.

"It is the Chalicar, the blade once wielded by Setaka, once Queen of the Ascended Host. I fought by her side for three centuries, but I can see that her name has been lost to time."

Sivir and I shared confused glances.

"The fallen are forgotten. That is the law of nature." Sivir shrugged. That was a callous thing to say but I didn't voice out my disagreement.

"She was prophesied to see the sun rise on the day a Shuriman emperor ruled the world. It made her think she was invincible."

He studied us, though his gaze seemed less focused than it was a moment before. I fidgeted under his scrutiny.

"She was brought down by monsters on the eve of Icathia's doom. No, destiny is not set in stone, young hero."

Sivir barked out a laugh and even I couldn't help but snort. Nasus frowned.

"Of course it's not set in stone. My fate is mine..."

Sivir spoke the words that Renekton once spoke to her. Words that resonated deep within my core, even more than Yasuo's words ever did.

"And mine alone." I finished for her, taking hold of the hand that wasn't on her weapon.

Nasus stared at us. I like to think we surprised the old dog. He nodded.

"A hero's heart indeed. Very well. The battle for Shurima is inevitable, but it is not today. For now, we must run. Xerath's warriors are killing everyone in Vekaura."

I grimaced. The sound of combat outside has dulled to background noise.

"What's so special about this place?" I asked. Nasus gestured towards Sivir.

"They are looking for her."

I could see the conflict on Sivir's face as she battled with herself. I had gotten to know her in the past few weeks we lived in this ramshackle building. She was selfish and paranoid, a result of too many knives in the back. She was someone who would look out for herself before anyone else, especially since she had no friends or family to call her own. The latest betrayal, the one that left her dying an ancient, ruined city, was merely another notch in her list of betrayals. But I could also see the light of hope there, in the way she looked at me with confusion, in the way her face seemed peaceful, if a bit irritated, when she told me of the literal god who defied another for her sake.

I watched as her face hardened and the breath she was holding was let out in a sigh.

"Nasus, eh?" She eyed the jackal-faced legend. "I've heard stories about you since I was a child. Stories of war and heroics. They say you and Renekton were Shurima's protectors."

"That is true," Nasus replied, "Renekton and I fought for Shurima for centuries."

Sivir hesitated before taking a step towards him. My gaze landed on her back, straightened by her resolve.

"Then fight for Shurima now. The free children of the desert are dying out there, even as we speak. If you're the hero I've heard about all my life, then go out there and save as many people as possible."

The next few seconds felt like an eternity.

"You have my oath. If you both go now, I shall do all I can to protect Vekaura's people." Nasus replied and the heavy atmosphere around us lifted. Nasus unhooked a pendant from around his neck. "This should prevent Xerath from locating you for a time."

Sivir grabbed the pendant and we watched as Nasus turned to exit the house. Sivir shrugged and called out for him.

"Nasus." He froze, waiting for her next words.

"Rawr, uwu, boop."

I frowned in confusion as Nasus turned back to face us.

"What?" we both asked her. Sivir shrugged.

"I don't know what it means but I guess it's some kind of well wishing."